Safety device for vehicles.



H. L. EISENHAUER. SAFETY DEVICE FOR VEHICLES.

APPLIOATIQN FILED APR. 20. 1914.

Patentd Sept. 29, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

xaaywgng I wrgzkxw H. L. EISENHAUER.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED APILZO, 1914.

1,11 1,888, Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

2 SHEETSS BET 2 g f w HERBERT L. EISEN'HAUER, 0F EUCLID, OHIO.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented se e'eo, 1914.

Application filed April 20, 1914. Serial No. 833,239.

To all 7.17 102% it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT L. EISEN- HAUER, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Euclid, Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Safety Devices for Vehicles, which invention is fully set forth .in'the-following specification.

The present invention relates to safety devices for vehicles, and particularly to antomobiles, and the objects of the invention are to provide a simple, compact and inconspicuous device of the character described that may be readily placed on and removed from vehicles; that will automatically stop the vehicle in the event of a collision, minimize the danger of injury to the person or other object that may be struck, and also minimize the danger of injury to the machine due to the collision.

Generally stated, these objects are 'attained by providing a movable contact chamber, preferably in the form of a yielding fender, with which is associateda shield that is automatically dropped'in front of the vehicle wheels upon the initial movement of the fender when it strikes the object. Furtheror continued movement of said contact member or fender brings into operation a buffer element or elements to protect the machine from the shock of collision. In. addition, a connection is provided between the movable shield mechanism and the engine, whereby when the shield drops in front of the wheels, the engine is automatically stopped, as by opening the circuit to the spark coil.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of the front part of a vehicle (with one of the wheels'removed) showing the improved device in position on the machine and the shield in its dropped position; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the improved device; Fig. 3 IS a longitudinal sectional view through one of the sockets showing the canvas shield folded; and Fig. 4% is a sectional view, partly in elevation, showing the means for holding the shield in its folded position, I

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts, 5' indicates the front of a vehicle, such as an automobile; to each side of which is secured a member which members support a frame.

work for a suitable shield 7, preferably of canvas, which shield is adapted to be automatically dropped in front of the wheels of the vehicle. The members 6 are identical and each is preferably ofv sheet metal stamped up into the form shown in Fig. 2,

with a socket 8, side pieces 9 and 9, and proections 10 and 10. ers 6' are secured to the machine in any suit- These supporting memable manner, as by bolts or screws passing through openings 11 and 12, and the projections 10 andlO bearing against the front vehicle springs 13 (Fig. 1) when the device is in positionon the vehicle.

Engaging in sockets 8 are two recipro-.

eating members, here shown as plungers 14;

,and 14', the outer ends of which are Secured to a transverse member 15 by T-joints16 and 16, As here shown, the plungens 14 and- '75 1e are hollow, and the inner end of each is closed by a plug or block l7 against which bears one end of a heavy coiled bufier spring 18, the other end of which engages a closure 19 in the end of socket 8. A pin 20 is carried by the end of each plunger and engages in a slot 21 in the socket.

The upper edge of the shield 7 is secured to the transverse member or bar 15 in any;

suitable manner, preferably the canvas passing entirely around the same and being stitched at 22. The lower edge of the shield 7' is secured in any desired manner to a bar or curved plate 23, which plate preferably engages the ground when the shield is dropped. Said plate is supported when the shield is folded (Fig. 3) and braced'when the shield is dropped (F ig. 2) by arms 24 and 24:, pivoted at 25 and 25, between the projections 10 and 10. Arm 24 is preferably provided with a branch 26 and arm 24 with a branch 27 so that the curved plate 23 is engaged at four points by said arms which, preferably, pass entirely under said plate 23 and are secured thereto in any suitable manher, as by rivets 28 whichlalso pass through the canvas of shield 7 (Figs. 3 and 4).

The shield is held in the folded position, shown in Figs. 3 and 4, by means connected to a movable contact member 29, here shown in the form of a fender. This contact member or fender 29 is preferably curved to project over and conceal the bar 15, thus rendering the. device very-inconspicuous when the shield is folded and protecting the shield and other parts from the elements. The preferred form of means for holding the;

shield folded is a latching member 30, one end of which is riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the fender at 31, and the other end of which is curved to engage in an opening 32 (Fig. 2) in plate 23. This latching member preferably projects through an opening'in the hollow bar 15 and preferably a small coiled spring 33 surrounds said latching member, said spring abutting atone end against bar 15 and at its other end against fender 29, the tendency of said spring being to hold the parts in the position shown in Fig. 4, i 1" 1 In view'of the fact that the disengagement of latch 30 from opening 32 not only results in the dropping of the shield but also acts to automatically stop the motor, it is important to prevent accidental or inadvertent unlatching, and hence additional spring members are provided to hold the parts in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4 until the fender 29 strikesa person or other object. As here 'shown, these springs'34 are carried in plun- 'gers '14 and 14Tone in each. Each of these springs is associated with a rod 35 (Fig. 3), oneend of which is riveted or otherwise'se- --cured*to the contact memberor fender 29,

f and the other. end of which earriesa piston 36 against which bearsone end of spring 34,the other end of which bears against the plug or block 17 Aset-screw- 37 is carried by. eachof the plungers, 14 and 14 and pro jects into the path of pistons 36 to limit the movement of the same, andof fender 29,

towardthe left. a

- Itg-isf' highly desirable that the machine should bestopped as soon as possible after the dropping of shield 7 and with this object in view, one end of a connecting wire or rop e 38 is secured to the shield 7 or a movable part associated therewith ,-.the other, end of said wire orJr-ope' connecting to the spark when the shield drops,"the spark coil or clutch'will be opened and the car ceases to;

"be driven; vAs here shown, one end of the wire 38 is secured to aneyelet'39 provided on an elbow 40 of arm 24, and the other end 7 is connected to a terminal 41 which is adapted for electrical connection with spark coil 42. Terminal 41 and spark coil 42 are shown .in Fig. 2, the terminal being shown detached from the spark coil.

in; The operation of the device is as follows:

During the normal running of the vehicle, the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4, with the shield 7 folded and the latch 30 enis position by springs 33 and 34. If now, the movable contact member or fender 29 strikesa person or other object, it will be forced back toward the machine against the tension'of springs'33 and 34, latch '30 will. be removed' from opening32, and the shield 7 die ng i opening 32, the P r being held it ground and being braced in that position by arms 24 and 24. As the shield drops, the arm 24 moves around its pivot 25, thus pulling on cord or wire 38 and removing terminal 41 from the'spark coil 42. If the person or object is struck with sufiicient force,

the contact member or fender 29 will be driven against bar 15, and will force rearwardly said bar and plungers 14 and 14 connected thereto against the tension of buffer springs 18, whereby injury to the machine will be prevented.

While, for the purpose of illustration, one expression of the inventive idea is herein shown and described in great detail, it is to be understood that this disclosure is merely for the purpose of illustration, and that the inventive idea is susceptible of various mechanical expressions within the limits of the appended claims.

What is claimed is 1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a movable contact memher, a plurality of spring-pressed rods connected thereto, reciprocating members in which said, rods project and in relation to which they move, butter springs bearing against 'saidreciprocating members, a shield, and means operated on the movement of said contact member to release said shield and permit it to drop infront of the vehicle wheels.

'2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a. movable contact member, a plurality of spring-pressed rods connected thereto, reciprocating members in which-said rodsproject and in relation to which they move, buffer springs bearing against said reciprocating members, a shield, and means connected to said contact member "and operating when the same is moved to release said shield. Tcoil, the clutch or other desired part, so that, 1'

3. In a device of the character described, the combination ofamovable contact member, a pluralityof'spring-pressed rods connected thereto, reciprocating members in which said rods project and in relation to which they move, buffer springs bearing against said reciprocating members, a shield, means operated on the movement of said contact member to release said shield and permit it to drop in front of the vehicle wheels, motor mechanism, and connections between said shield and the motor mechanism for stopping the motor when the shield is dropped.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a collapsible shield, a movable contact member, connections between said shield and member whereby the former is maintained in collapsed position, a plurality of. springs'adapted to maintain the .shieldjn collapsed condition, a plurality of plungers independent of said contact member but adapted to be moved rearward said contact member, 7 associated with said reciprocating member.

upon the movement of said contact member, and buffer springs associated with said plungers.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a collapsible shield, means maintaining said shield in collapsed condition, a spring-pressed movable contact member'the initial movement of which displaces said means and permits said shield to drop, a plunger independent of said contact member but adapted to be moved rearward upon the further movement of said contact member,- and a butter spring associated with said plunger. I

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of a collapsible shield, means engaging and holding said shield in collapsed condition, a movable contact member theinitial movement of which displaces said -.means and permits said shield totdrop,

' a reciprocating member independent of said contact member but adapted to be moved rearward upon the further movement of and a butter spring 7. In a device of-the character described,

spring actin the combination of a shield, a latch adapted to engage said shield, a spring acting to hold said latch in engagement With said shield, a reciprocating member, a buffer on the same, and a movable contact mem er independent of said recip rocating member the initial movement of which displaces the latch against the tension of its spring and permits said shield to fall and the further movement of which displaces the reciprocating member against the tension of its spring.

8. In a device of the character described, thecombinatio'n of a shield, a latch adapted to engage said shield, a spring acting to hold said latch in engagement With said shield, a reciprocating member, a buffer spring acting on the same, a movable contact member independent of said reciprocating member the initial movement of which contact member displaces the latch against the tension of its spring and permits said shield to fall and the further movement of which displaces the reciprocating member against the tension of its spring, motor mechanism, and connections between said shield and mechanism.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination of a movable contact member, a plurality of spring-pressed rods connected thereto, a plurality of reciprocating members in which said rods project, bufler springs bearing against one end of said recimocating members, a bar connected to the other end of each of said reciprocating members and adapted to be engaged by said ('uIrHlCt member, a collapsible shield conto which the opposite edge of said shield is connected, and a latch carried by said con tact member and engaging said plate to hold said shield in its collapsed condition.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination of a movable con'tactinemher, a spring-pressed rod connected thereto, a reciprocating member in which said rod projects, a butter spring bearing against one end of said reciprocating member, a bar connected to the otherend. of said reciprocating member and adapted to be engaged" by said contact member, a collapsible shield connected along one edge to said bar,.a plate-t9 which the opposite edge of said shield is connected, and a latch carried by said contact member and engaging said plate to hold said shield in its collapsed condition.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination of a movable contact member, a pluralityof spring-pressed rods con-- nected thereto, a pluralityo-f reciprocating members in which said rods-project, buffer springs bearing against one end of said re- 12. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a movable contact member, a spring-pressed rod connected thereto,

a reciprocating member in which said rod projects, a buffer springbearing against one end of said reciprocating member, a bar connected to the other end of said reciproeating member and adapted to be engaged bv said contact member, a collapsible shield connected along one edge to said bar, a plate to which the opposite edge of said shield is ,connected, a latch carried by said contact member and engaging said plate to hold said shield in its collapsed condition, and a pivoted arm supporting said plate when the shield is collapsed and bracing the same when the shield is dropped.

13. In a device of the character described, the combination of a movable spring-pressed contact member, a reciprocating member independent of but adapted to be moved rear- I Ward by said contact member, a buffer spring acting against said reciprocating member, a shield, and means operated on the movement of said contact member to release said shield and permit it to drop in front of the vehicle Wheels.

14. In a device of the character described the combination of a movable spring-pressed contact member, a reciprocating member independent of said contact member but adapted to be engaged and moved thereby, a

buffer spring acting on said reciprocating member, a shield,'and means operated on the movement of said contact member to release said shield and permit it to dropin front of the vehicle'wheels.

In a device of the character described, the combination of a shield, a latch adapted to engage said shield, a reciprocating memher, a buffer spring acting on the same, a

movable contact member inde endent of said reciprocating member theinitialmovement -members in which said rods project, buffer springs bearing against one end of said reciprocating members, a bar connected to the other end of each of said reciprocating members and adapted to be engaged by said con- 1,111,sss

tact member, a shield connected along one edge to sa1d bar, and means operated on the movement of said contact member to release lease said shield and permit it to drop in' front of the vehicle Wheels In testimony whereof I have signed this I specification in the presence of two subscribing wltnesses.

HERBERT L. EISENHAUERQ Witnesses:

A. SHARP, C. O. I-IARMoN.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of ratents.

' Washington, D. O. 

